GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



June 15 



the risk of being stung; and if he were stung 

 he would be liable to drop the frames and be 

 a sadder and wiser man therefor, and in all 

 probability he would never want any thing 



FULL SHEETS OF FOUNDATION. 



THE BIGHT WAY TO HANDLE DANZENBAKER FRAMES. 



Closed-end frames should not be pried apart singly, 

 but in blocks of two or more. When so handled, thev 

 will not tumble over against each other, as shown in 

 illustration just preceding. When a single frame is 

 taken out, the next adjoining ones should be pried a 

 little apart from it. It may then be removed, and 

 when inserted in the same way; and all bees that may 

 in the meantime have crawled over the contact edges 

 will be shoved out of the way as the frame descends 

 into position. Notice that the pin-support is out of 

 the way where it can crush no bees. When the frames 

 are in place, crowd them together tightly to keep out 

 the bee-glue. 



more to do with bees. Right here a closed 

 frame allows one to handle two or three at a 

 time, without any danger of a catastrophe of 

 this kind. The Hoffman frames can be 

 handled in the same way, and with the same 

 facility. 







# 



Naturally Built Comb Lasts only a Few 

 Years ; the Use of Queen-excluding Zinc. 



BY C. W. DAYTON. 



HOW TO BUMP THE BEES OFF A COMB. 



The method here shown (the Dr. Miller plan) illustrates one 

 plan of jarring the bees off by a sharp quick blow of the fist on the 

 back of the hand holding the frame. 



For about ten years I used full sheets of 

 foundation in brood-frames; but about seven 

 years ago I decided to let the bees build their 

 own combs, as it was cheaper at the begin- 

 ning, and I thought I could see methods by 

 which I could compel the bees to build nat- 

 ural combs free enough from drone comb 

 for practical purposes; but during the last 

 two or three years I have been getting a 

 decided leaning toward full sheets of foun- 

 dation at all times. What a man may think 

 has very little influence on what the bees 

 will do. 



They will build worker combs very nicely 

 when new strong swarms are hived and there 

 is a steady flow of honey from the flowers; 

 but if these particular requisites happen to 

 fall a little short, there may be very unsatis- 

 factory work done. If some of the combs 

 remain for completion the next spring it will 

 be quite sure to be drone. New combs which 

 are perfect do nicely for two or three years 

 until they begin to be clogged with cocoons. 

 Then they begin to tear down and add pieces 

 here and there. Some comb gets moth and 

 mouse eaten; some will contain pollen which, 

 in damp weather, or in the outer corners of 

 hives, will mold, thus causing patches and 

 holes to be made clear through the combs to 

 get it out. Robbers often tear holes thi-ough 

 the combs in their strife for the honey. 

 Then there are all kinds of acci- 

 dents constantly happening, which 

 break or tear a piece out of a comb. 

 It is a small matter, seemingly, 

 and we may promise to fix it; but 

 it is usually neglected, and so on; 

 and this constant routine, kept up 

 for a few years, renders the combs 

 in bad shape. We finally decide 

 that the combs should receive a 

 wholesale renewing, and we de- 

 cide not to repeat the trial of nat- 

 ural combs again. That is my 

 experience. 



But if the frames were put up 

 without holes for wire, at first, it 

 will be difiicult to pierce them 

 after the frames have been nailed 

 and in use. But the machine, as 

 shown in the Feb. 15th issue of 

 last year, will do the work. 



It will not be best to make an 

 entire change in a single season. 

 The job is so great as almost to 

 discourage one from continuance 

 in the business. The best way is 

 to renew about two combs in each 

 colony every spring. As the bees 

 are being built up for the harvest 

 we have a good chance to see 

 which are the combs in a colony 

 which are in greatest need of re- 

 jection. Then if the two sheets of 

 foundation are inserted the col- 



